Usually a pregnant woman, along with other tests, is made to undergo a test for gestational diabetes, at about 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, through the normal glucose tolerance method.

Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes

As the name indicates, gestational diabetes occurs only when women become pregnant; it can occur in women who never had any history of diabetes, or genetically disposed to it.    In US, it is estimated that around 5 to 7% of pregnant women are diagnosed with diabetes.

This occurrence can be serious especially to the baby growing in your womb. If you are diagnosed as a diabetic, it simply refers to the metabolic condition that signifies that your body is unable to manage the glucose levels. The medical fraternity usually notices something amiss when the placenta begins production of hormones which can later resist insulin when the pregnancy is about 23 – 29 weeks, even as your doctor orders a glucose tolerance test.

To determine whether you are having gestational diabetes, a test is necessary. Follow the following steps to get yourself diagnosed.

1. Make an appointment with the doctor who is looking after your pregnancy condition to ask for a diagnostic test, and to determine whether you have gestational diabetes.

2. The glucose tolerance test takes about two hours of your time. This is because you require about an hour break from the time of your first glucose intake to the time of collection of blood to measure the blood sugar levels.

3. You will receive the result within a day. If your blood glucose level is more than 140 mg/DL, you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and will be asked to undergo a further test, the Oral glucose tolerance test. If this test results show that your glucose levels are below 140 mg/DL, then you don’t have this condition, which will be a great relief to you and your family members.

In case you are diagnosed with this condition, you will be required to take medication to bring down the sugar levels and will also be advised to follow a strict diet and a simple exercise regimen, which should be followed till the baby is delivered.

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